A new take on an authentic classic – let the slow cooker do the work for you! Try street tacos with slow cooker carnitas for your next taco-night spread.

carnitas street tacos on a round blue plate with sliced avocados in a white dish

What Is A Street Taco?

A street taco is a traditional food originating from the many taco variations in Mexico. It developed over time as an “on-the-go” portable meal that was prevalent amongst street vendors and working classes.

The street taco is called such due to its “street” food presence – quick, local fare of past generations through now. It differs from many of the traditional Tex-Mex tacos in Mexican cuisine because of its simplified ingredients and signature “double-tortillas.” Some suggest the second tortilla should be used for extra meat, while others claim the second tortilla is the extra support for a taco eaten on-the-go.

What Meat Is Traditionally Used In A Street Taco?

Common Tex-Mex tacos contain shredded chicken or ground beef, while a street taco generally contains one of the following meat varieties:

close up of the inside of a carnitas street taco with onions and cilantro

Carnitas – braised (roasted and stewed in a sealed container – i.e. the slow cooker) pork butt or shoulder served shredded or pulled

Barbacoa – braised and marinated shredded beef (very similar to carnitas)

Carne asada – a lean, beef steak cut of meat, marinated, grilled, and sliced very thin

Al Pastor – marinated pork shoulder, cooked on a vertical spit (rotisserie or shawarma-style) and shaved off in slices

These meat variations are most often recognized with pork or beef ingredients, however, lamb is also used in similar cooking styles.

What Toppings Typically Go On Street Tacos?

Traditional street tacos contain pretty simplified ingredients which allow the individual flavors to really shine! Many popular recipes will stick to the essential toppings of finely diced onion and cilantro on top of the meat and 2 tortillas.

Depending on preference and styles, add additional flavors that will enhance the key player – the juicy, tender meat.

Salsa – verde, roja, habanero hot sauce – you pick! Any variation of smooth, spicy sauce will work for street tacos
Lime – estimate at least one wedge per serving to drizzle over the meat for the signature citrusy flavor
Avocado – creamy, fresh avocado slices are visually pleasing and a delicious contrast to the spice of slow cooker carnitas
Cheese – most street tacos exclude cheese (more familiar to the crunchy Tex-Mex tacos) – try different varieties that complement the spice of the meat such as a sprinkle of feta or cotija cheese
Corn – try Mexican street corn for a perfect roasted pairing with a small portion of kernels in the tacos
Diced Tomatoes – these could be pico-de-gallo style or even sliced grape tomatoes

Best Tortillas To Use

Street tacos developed over time through street vendor sales and transport through travel and to work settings. They were (and are) an economical and easy meal – meant to be easily carried in one hand and eaten. As such, the tortillas are key!

It is most common to use corn tortillas for street tacos and generally, the smaller size, the better. Typically the best street taco tortillas are between 5-7 inches in diameter and can be found in both flour and corn varieties at the grocery store. Larger tortillas will leave you with a lot of “bread” vs. meat in your tacos.

Seasoned taco chefs know that keeping the tortillas warm until serving is a common concern! Fortunately, several options exist to make your tortillas as delicious as the slow cooker carnitas.

Oven – Set your oven to the lowest temperature and lay the tortillas across a sheet pan. Heat for up to 10 minutes (check warmth to the touch in intervals of a few minutes) until the tortillas feel pliable and warm. Turn off the heat and keep the oven closed until ready to serve, or remove from the oven and cover with a clean towel.
Stove – Heat the tortillas in a large skillet by laying a few at a time in the pan and flipping with tongs after 20-30 seconds on each side. Lay on a plate or clean towel and cover to keep warm until serving.
Microwave – Place a dampened paper towel on a microwave-safe plate and microwave a few tortillas at a time for approximately 15-30 seconds. Remove and cover until serving.

How to Make Street Tacos with Slow Cooker Carnitas

Try this simple line-up of ingredients to prep tender and flavorful pork carnitas.

bag of Vidalia onions next to 3 jalapeño peppers

To begin, place boneless pork shoulder in the slow cooker and rub with taco seasoning, pressing in firmly as needed. This ensures spices stick to get those seasoned ends after shredding. With standard store-bought taco seasoning, add up to 2 packets for enough flavor.

Next, finely dice the onion and jalapeño and add to the slow cooker while reserving a little onion for topping the tacos when serving.

pork shoulder with seasoning rub in slow cooker

pork shoulder with taco seasoning in slow cooker

Add fire-roasted tomatoes to the slow cooker. (Tomatoes add some acidity, so you can choose to leave these out based on preference.)

Then, carefully pour the beer and orange juice into the bottom of the dish without washing off the spices. Here, if you’d like to keep the recipe gluten-free, you can sub for a gluten-free beer variety or the same liquid amount of chicken broth.

seasoned pork shoulder in white slow cooker ready to cook

can of holidaily favorite blond gluten free beer

Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove pork from the slow cooker and shred with forks in a large bowl. (Tip: Many people like to use their mixer to shred pork, but I prefer the bigger chunks from hand-shredding with two forks. I think it keeps the meat juicier.)

pork shoulder in slow cooker with juices

yellow casserole dish filled with shredded pork carnitas

Heat corn tortillas and layer 2 for each taco. Add ¼ cup of the meat to each stack of tortillas and top with fresh onion, cilantro, and avocado or as desired. Enjoy!

What Can Be Served With Street Tacos?

Options abound for your next Taco Tuesday (or Wednesday, or Thursday, or…anytime for tacos)! Fresh vegetable ingredients are a perfect pairing to the tacos – such as Tomato Corn Salsa served in a cup on the side or even Instant Pot Corn on the Cob.

Set up a pot of Slow Cooker Pinto Beans to simmer alongside your pork carnitas. Or, add beans ON your street tacos with Slow Cooker Refried Black Beans with Roasted Garlic.